Coups, Democracy And The Search For A New Governance Model For Africa

Africa is once again facing the unsettling resurgence of military takeovers. Just days ago, former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan who led the West African Elders Forum to observe elections in Guinea-Bissau claimed that President Umaro Embaló effectively staged his own coup to avoid losing power.

This so-called “ceremonial coup” adds to a growing list of unconstitutional changes of government across the continent, from Burkina Faso to Mali, Niger, Gabon, and now Guinea-Bissau. These events underscore persistent challenges around governance, legitimacy, and the effectiveness of Western-style democracy, which in many cases has exposed structural weaknesses inherited from colonial rule. At the same time, emerging African leaders, exemplified by figures like Captain Ibrahim Traoré, are prompting renewed discussions on sovereignty, self-determination, and the type of governance Africa truly needs.